Upgrade PC or start all over? - Page 2

jeff323 · 15 November 12, 17:04

Ok guys, I'm bringing this back from the dead. I am finally getting around to upgrading. What do you all think of these? Hopefully the link works, I made my wish list public but it still appears it may be private...

****UPDATE****

Alright guys I think my "wish list" is now public so hopefully you can view it. And I do realize my sound card is outdated, but for now that's not a priority. I would really like to stay under $700 (closer to 6 if possible) if you have any changes or suggestions...

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...umber=19329352

DurgeDriven · 15 November 12, 17:10

Link does not work Jeff

You need to make list without a account or take a screenshot or list the links individually.

CASE
POWER SUPPLY
COOLER
PROCESSOR
MOTHERBOARD
MEMORY
VIDEO CARD
STORAGE

Budget and performance requirements.

Tkrau · 15 November 12, 17:22

Consider adding a sound card to your list...while on-board sound has improved a bit in the past few years, I still maintain that a discrete sound card will out-perform any on-board sound solution significantly.

trotter2k · 15 November 12, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tkrau

Consider adding a sound card to your list...while on-board sound has improved a bit in the past few years, I still maintain that a discrete sound card will out-perform any on-board sound solution significantly.

some video cards come with HDMI now witch is good if you want to use High Def sound but agree if your not using HDMI then a sound card would be a good improvement.

Tkrau · 15 November 12, 20:23

HDMI is just an interface for transferring digital audio data from a source to a digital-audio-ready device...it doesn't produce the sound data itself. You also would need some sort of pass-thru device to carry the audio signal to the video card's HDMI output*. And in the end you'll have a digital audio signal sent to the monitor, and the monitor will need to have on-board speakers for it to work, and most of those are the equivalent of laptop speakers (ie - tiny) and are stereo-only...HDMI is designed to pass surround-sound data.

* I think some current motherboards' on-board surround-capable audio have this capability, but I'm not positive.

jeff323 · 15 November 12, 20:38

Alright, sorry guys. I'm at work right now, I'll try and fix it later tonight.

DurgeDriven · 15 November 12, 22:50

I do agree onboard is not fantastic but it is not that bad either these days.

Lets worry about the main stuff first see, what he has left.

Don't want him buying a sound card and a 7770 / GT520 do we. p

I am worried some one is going to mention SSD as it is.

hehe

Tkrau · 15 November 12, 22:56

It's not as bad as it used to be (even the RealTec crapware has improved...a bit. Sometimes.), but still...also, I should probably point out that I am anal and snotty about my sound, thanks to a combo of being raised by an audiophile father and my being a musician. Sound that is 'good enough'...isn't!

But yeah...a sound card isn't absolutely mandatory for most builds, unless the machine will also be used as a home theatre and/or the owner has/will have a surround sound speaker setup. If you're doing stereo only thru a pair of $20 speakers, on-board will suffice.

DurgeDriven · 16 November 12, 00:39

Yeah, the cheapest set of logi 5.1s would be about my cutoff.

Reef Budseed · 16 November 12, 05:08

Don't want him buying a sound card and a 7770 / GT520 do we. p

NOOOOOO!

jeff323 · 16 November 12, 06:39

Link fixed see above

Tkrau · 16 November 12, 06:45

That's not a bad list at all...only thing I can see to comment on is the ATI card, but I also freely admit to serious nVidia biases.

What's your PSU?

jeff323 · 16 November 12, 14:21

I actually figured there would be a big ATI vs nVidia debate. I've always had good luck with ATI cards so that's why I went that route. But I'm open to nVidia if there is something really good out there at the moment. I would like to be able to run triple monitors off of one card at some point down the road if that means anything...

Also I currently have a fairly new 750w corsair power supply.

DucFreak · 16 November 12, 14:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff323

I actually figured there would be a big ATI vs nVidia debate. I've always had good luck with ATI cards so that's why I went that route. But I'm open to nVidia if there is something really good out there at the moment. I would like to be able to run triple monitors off of one card at some point down the road if that means anything...

Also I currently have a fairly new 750w corsair power supply.

Either Radeon HD7870 or Nvidia GTX660Ti (they compete directly), you'll be well served.

With that said, if triple-screen is a concern, perhaps you should also consider the Radeon HD7950 and Nvidia GTX670.

Tkrau · 16 November 12, 17:18

PSU shouldn't be an issue for awhile, with that Corsair.

ATI vs nVidia - IMO and historically, I believe that nVidia has produced a better card overall and usually stays on top of their driver releases. Add in that I've had TERRIBLE luck with the two ATI cards I've tried in the past (including the one that died two days - TWO FREAKIN' DAYS - after the warranty on it timed out and then having them claiming it was out of warranty in refusing a warr. replacement) and I'll not spend another penny on an ATI card. But that's just me...YMMV.

15 November 12, 17:04	#51
jeff323 Join Date: Jul 2006	Ok guys, I'm bringing this back from the dead. I am finally getting around to upgrading. What do you all think of these? Hopefully the link works, I made my wish list public but it still appears it may be private... **UPDATE** Alright guys I think my "wish list" is now public so hopefully you can view it. And I do realize my sound card is outdated, but for now that's not a priority. I would really like to stay under $700 (closer to 6 if possible) if you have any changes or suggestions... http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...umber=19329352 Last edited by jeff323; 16 November 12 at 06:38.

15 November 12, 17:10	#52
DurgeDriven Join Date: Jan 2011	Link does not work Jeff You need to make list without a account or take a screenshot or list the links individually. CASE POWER SUPPLY COOLER PROCESSOR MOTHERBOARD MEMORY VIDEO CARD STORAGE Budget and performance requirements.

15 November 12, 17:22	#53
Tkrau Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Central California	Consider adding a sound card to your list...while on-board sound has improved a bit in the past few years, I still maintain that a discrete sound card will out-perform any on-board sound solution significantly.

15 November 12, 20:23	#55
Tkrau Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Central California	HDMI is just an interface for transferring digital audio data from a source to a digital-audio-ready device...it doesn't produce the sound data itself. You also would need some sort of pass-thru device to carry the audio signal to the video card's HDMI output. And in the end you'll have a digital audio signal sent to the monitor, and the monitor will need to have on-board speakers for it to work, and most of those are the equivalent of laptop speakers (ie - tiny) and are stereo-only...HDMI is designed to pass surround-sound data. I think some current motherboards' on-board surround-capable audio have this capability, but I'm not positive.

15 November 12, 20:38	#56
jeff323 Join Date: Jul 2006	Alright, sorry guys. I'm at work right now, I'll try and fix it later tonight.

15 November 12, 22:50	#57
DurgeDriven Join Date: Jan 2011	I do agree onboard is not fantastic but it is not that bad either these days. Lets worry about the main stuff first see, what he has left. Don't want him buying a sound card and a 7770 / GT520 do we. p I am worried some one is going to mention SSD as it is. hehe

15 November 12, 22:56	#58
Tkrau Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Central California	It's not as bad as it used to be (even the RealTec crapware has improved...a bit. Sometimes.), but still...also, I should probably point out that I am anal and snotty about my sound, thanks to a combo of being raised by an audiophile father and my being a musician. Sound that is 'good enough'...isn't! But yeah...a sound card isn't absolutely mandatory for most builds, unless the machine will also be used as a home theatre and/or the owner has/will have a surround sound speaker setup. If you're doing stereo only thru a pair of $20 speakers, on-board will suffice.

16 November 12, 00:39	#59
DurgeDriven Join Date: Jan 2011	Yeah, the cheapest set of logi 5.1s would be about my cutoff.

16 November 12, 05:08	#60
Reef Budseed Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Burlington, ON Canada	Don't want him buying a sound card and a 7770 / GT520 do we. p NOOOOOO!

16 November 12, 06:39	#61
jeff323 Join Date: Jul 2006	Link fixed see above

16 November 12, 06:45	#62
Tkrau Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Central California	That's not a bad list at all...only thing I can see to comment on is the ATI card, but I also freely admit to serious nVidia biases. What's your PSU?

16 November 12, 14:21	#63
jeff323 Join Date: Jul 2006	I actually figured there would be a big ATI vs nVidia debate. I've always had good luck with ATI cards so that's why I went that route. But I'm open to nVidia if there is something really good out there at the moment. I would like to be able to run triple monitors off of one card at some point down the road if that means anything... Also I currently have a fairly new 750w corsair power supply.

16 November 12, 17:18	#65
Tkrau Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Central California	PSU shouldn't be an issue for awhile, with that Corsair. ATI vs nVidia - IMO and historically, I believe that nVidia has produced a better card overall and usually stays on top of their driver releases. Add in that I've had TERRIBLE luck with the two ATI cards I've tried in the past (including the one that died two days - TWO FREAKIN' DAYS - after the warranty on it timed out and then having them claiming it was out of warranty in refusing a warr. replacement) and I'll not spend another penny on an ATI card. But that's just me...YMMV.